Palmetto Brewing Co., the Holy City’s oldest brewery, will close its doors for good on Thursday, June 26, 2025. The news was first shared on social media Monday by a local band performing on the brewery’s final day of business and was confirmed Tuesday by The Post and Courier.
The news comes on the heels of a Post and Courier report stating the brewery’s owners are facing legal action over more than $6.9 million borrowed to acquire the business in October 2021.
The original Palmetto Brewery in Charleston opened in 1888. Located at the corner of Market and Hayne streets, it briefly changed its name to Germania Brewing Co. in 1896, but soon reverted to its original name.
The brewery survived the hurricane of 1886, the earthquake of 1887 and even the Civil War, but was forced to close in 1916 due to bankruptcy. After its closure, no beer of any kind was brewed in Charleston for nearly 80 years.
In the late 1980s, Ed Falkenstein and his friend Louis Bruce began planning to build a brewery in Charleston. It took a few years, but in 1993, they poured their first beer at 289 Huger Street. As a tribute to the historic Palmetto Brewery, they named the new business after South Carolina’s state tree.
In January 2018, Catawba Valley Brewing Co. purchased Palmetto Brewery from then-owner Larry Lipov.
Palmetto Brewing is located at 289 Huger St. and will remain open until its closure.